colleges

That's a good shot!

Photographer Arthur Conrads (sic) was active in Seguin around this time, and his (mostly later) works are collected in the Brisco Center for American History, I believe. He worked for at least one year in San Marcos, and later for many years in Karnes City. It's possible this could be some of his work. He was white, probably of german descent and seemingly from New Braunfels originally. This school looks impressive. The architect who designed "Old Main" in San Marcos, built circa 1903 may have been involved, who knows? I'd guess this photo commemorates the completion of the structure, but of course I'm speculating.

The first Saint Mary's Church, Warwick is a substantial sandstone building, constructed 1863–1865 to designs of prominent Brisbane architect, Benjamin Backhouse.[1 The plan for the church was duly prepared by prominent Brisbane architect, Benjamin Backhouse, to the specifications that it was to be simple but tasteful, in the Gothic style and in stone or brick. Despite the setback of severe damage during a thunderstorm, the church building was officially opened on 23 August 1865 by Bishop Quinn, the first Roman Catholic Bishop of Brisbane. At this time the church was named the St Mary of the Assumption, now popularly shortened to St Mary's. This original building consisted of only the nave of the present church, with side entrances, not through porches, but simply accessing the body of the church directly. The roof of the building was slated or shingled. By 1867 a Catholic school, run by the Misses O'Mara until the arrival of the Sisters of Mercy in 1874, was established in the church by the next parish priest, Father O'Reilly. The church was partitioned with calico screens, firstly to separate the sanctuary from the teaching area and, later to divide the teaching area into smaller rooms in the body of the church. O'Reilly was replaced by Father McDonagh, who was the first resident priest, and after him in 1876 came Father James Horan who was to remain in Warwick until 1905. Horan was responsible for the completion of the church by 1894 when the transepts and chancel were added. By this time porches over the side, entrances were also completed.[1] AS St Mary's Church over time became inadequate for the needs of his community, new plans are sought for the construction of a second larger church, further north on the same block in Palmerin Street. Local architects, Dornbusch & Connolly drew plans for the second St Mary's church which, like the original church, was to conform to a cruciform plan, but only the body has thus far been completed. The new church was constructed between 1920 and 1926 when it was officially opened.[1] After the opening of the new church, the original St Mary's was partitioned, lined and used as school rooms, for the Catholic primary school which began in the building in its earliest days. It has remained as a community meeting hall and store to this day. Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_St_Mary%27s_Church,_Warwick